Ala Moana Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at your local spot.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start ahead, with the first solid call landing on Sunday the 9th. The water’s sitting at 81°F which is bang on normal for this time of year, so no weirdness there.

Sunday morning you’re looking at chest-to-shoulder high waves, 5ft, coming from the ENE at a short 7 seconds. It’s a bit lumpy energy-wise, with a combined energy of 526 (moderate). The wind’s a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the ENE, which keeps the face reasonably clean, but that short period means it’ll be a bit sectiony. Not the best, but you can get a few if you’re keen. Afternoon pushes to 6ft, same deal, but the energy bumps to 595 – still just moderate.

Monday and Tuesday (10th and 11th) are pretty grim – poor conditions, clean faces but short and weak. Tuesday afternoon sees a shift: a 3ft SSW groundswell at 14 seconds rolls in, energy jumps to 531. It’s small but that long period will give it shape. The wind is still cross-off, so it might be worth a paddle for the clean lines if you’re not after size.

Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th brings a consistent S swell, around 3ft to 4ft, with periods of 14 to 18 seconds – proper groundswell. Combined energy sits between 846 and 909 (moderate-to-strong). The wind stays cross-off from the ENE, so those long-period lines will be clean. Ala Moana Bowls is a reef, so that long-period energy will wrap in nicely. This stretch is your best bet early on. Keep in mind it’s a fairly consistent spot, and crowds are often there, so don’t expect solitude.

Now, the real standout looks like Sunday the 16th. That morning we’ve got 10ft of ENE swell at 13 seconds – combined energy is a massive 3486 (very strong). By afternoon it jumps to 12ft, same direction, period holding at 13 seconds, and the wind goes offshore from the N at 16 mph. That’s big, clean, and powerful. This is expert territory – over 8ft is only for the experienced. If you’ve got the skills, this will be the session of the fortnight.

Monday the 17th looks rough – cross-on and onshore winds with 6ft dropping to 5ft, poor quality. After that, from the 18th to the 20th, we’re back to small, short-period ENE swell (4ft to 5ft, 7-8 seconds), with moderate energy (318 to 379). Not much to write home about.

There’s a little pulse on Thursday the 20th – a 2ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period, combined energy 653. It’s small but that period is insane – the reef will turn those into clean, walled-up waves. Then Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd see a bump in ENE swell: 6ft to 7ft, period 7-8 seconds, energy in the 630 to 823 range. Clean with cross-off wind, so decent, but that short period means it won’t hold shape like the groundswells.

The final weekend (23rd and 24th) brings similar ENE swell, 7ft to 8ft, short period, with fresh cross-off winds. Energy sits around 630 to 779. Nothing to get too excited about, but if you’re itching for a wave, it’s there.

Best of the bunch: the groundswell window from Wednesday the 12th to Friday the 14th, and the big Sunday the 16th. If you can only paddle out once, make it the 16th afternoon – that’s a special one.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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